5040 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister for Mental Health

5040 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister for Mental Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter July to September 2024 on the action area ‘Ensure that people have the information and support to make healthy choices about gambling for themselves and others’ under ‘Objective 2: Shift cultural and social norms’ within the Ministry of Health’s Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2022/23 to 2024/25?

Hon Matt Doocey: I am advised that during the July to September 2024 quarter, the following progress was made: Gambling Harm Awareness Week (2-8 September 2024) was held; including a social media and radio campaign encouraging friends and whānau of gamblers to seek help and support. A suite of community resources was developed for Gambling Harm Minimisation Services across New Zealand, which included ‘Spending more on Pokies’ wallet cards in seven languages; Safer Gambling Aotearoa wallet cards; Harm minimisation signs for venues, and Kōrero Card packs. I am further advised that minimising gambling harm grants were provided to service providers to run a considerable range of Gambling Harm Awareness Week activities throughout the country.